Dez Expects Helmet Rule Won’t Last Long

The rule, which owners passed 31-1, calls for a 15-yard penalty whenever a ball carrier or defender delivers a blow with the crown of the helmet if that player is more than three yards outside the tackle box.

“Truth be told, I’m not trying to run nobody over,” Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant said to the Dallas Morning News. “I’m really just trying to make them miss, trying to score every time I touch the ball. But they keep making these rules, people aren’t going to want to watch football any more. I don’t think that rule is going to last long. There’s going to be so many penalties in this league. Too many guys getting fined. It’s hard for somebody to pay attention to trying to not to use their helmet.”

His teammate, cornerback Brandon Carr, also doesn’t like it.

“Are they going to call it?” Carr said to the paper. “I think they’re trying too hard on that topic. It’s one thing to improve safety but it can’t just challenge the integrity of the game. I don’t see too many running backs out there running with their heads down intentionally trying to spear you or anything with their helmet. Most running backs lower their shoulder anyway. You’re taught to lower the shoulder and bring the boom.”

The league says that’s the goal, to get back to fundamentals while trying to prevent head and neck injuries.